“What did you think was going to happen to you, Alison Lane?”

Whew, this book was a wild ride! From the very first page, I was completely hooked and on the edge of my seat. We have so many action-packed sequences, snappy character introductions, and addictive short chapters that make this book so incredibly easy to keep reading long after you wanted to turn in for the night.

I think Alex Finlay’s skillful storytelling really shines through with his characters. I absolutely loved the multiple POVs. We bounce from law student Ryan in Italy, to sheriff’s deputy Poppy in Kansas, to mobster O’Leary in Philadelphia.

Each story is so interesting and I literally gasped out loud when it was revealed how they all come together.

One thing I thought Alex Finlay did beautifully was humanizing and evoking a sense of empathy for all these characters. Most of them have done bad things, yet it was clear they weren’t bad people. I’m not condoning their actions, but at the very least, you can understand WHY they did what they did. These are well-thought out characters that were tastefully written.

This book gets a well-deserved 5 stars from me. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

It’s been five years since Ryan Richardson witnessed the kidnapping of his girlfriend Alison Lane in their hometown of Leavenworth, Kansas. Ryan was left injured, with a vague recollection of his attacker, who was never found, and Alison and her car disappeared without a trace. Initially a prime suspect in her disappearance, Ryan is eventually acquitted, but the unwanted media attention surrounding the case forces him to change his name.

In the present day, he is a law student at Georgetown and while visiting Italy with a group of friends he is informed that Alison’s car was found submerged in Suncatcher Lake with the bodies of two men and Alison’s bag with a cryptic note. Ryan, able to decipher the note, embarks on his own quest to find out what happened to Ali.

In Leavenworth, Kansas, Poppy McGee, who only recently joined as deputy sheriff after being discharged from the army, is pursuing the investigation into Ali’s disappearance. She has her hands full, reviewing case files from five years ago, trying to locate Ryan and decode Ali’s message. As she delves into the details pertaining to Ali’s disappearance, Poppy begins to suspect that there are people close to her who might know more than they are letting on and unbeknownst to either Ryan or Poppy there are other forces at play and people with their own agenda who are monitoring their movements.

A cleverly crafted thriller with well-thought-out characters, If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is a gripping read. A lot is going on in this novel, but the author deftly weaves it all together into a twisty and suspenseful fast-paced narrative presented through multiple perspectives in short chapters and not a boring moment. I will admit that I could predict one of the major twists/reveals midway through the novel, but this in no way detracted from my overall experience because there were plenty of surprises along the way.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller! As with most books in this genre, there are OTT elements, but don’t overthink it and just enjoy the wild ride!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"I need to see you. I know who you are "

When you are in hiding, telling the truth or lying, the bad guy or the good guy, the above are not words you want to hear. In the fast paced crime drama, If Something Happens To Me, by hook you from the start, renowned author Alex Finlay, too many people know about people they shouldn't know about at all.

Ryan's life exploded in a moment, the car door ripped open, a blow to his head and pulled from the car. The last memory is his girlfriend Ali screaming and then...nothing. The car was gone and so was Ali.

Everyone believed he hurt her but there was no proof, no body to investigate; so he changed his name and moved away. Now 5 years later, traveling in Italy he gets the call. They found the car. There are two dead bodies in it but neither is Ali. They did find a note from her written on an envelope; it just says, "If something happens to me." Nothing else on it.

Then in what is way too much of a coincidence, he sees one of the men from that night in Tuscany. Thus begins a chase across Europe, but who is chasing who, and who is really leading the chase may lead to unwanted truths.

I was enthralled by voice actors Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh performing this exciting thriller. The author seamlessly brings the deadly consequences of childhood bullying to light as the catalyst to much of this mystery; it became an important story while entertaining me.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my

Everything I love in a book. Mystery. Murder. Timeline. Heart-throbbing. Intense. Thriller. Fast read. Page Turner. Short chapters.
There are three storylines that are masterfully narrated. My mind was racing to tie them together before Finlay tells. Alex Finlay did it all in his latest book: If Something Happens To Me.
Ryan will never forget the last time he saw Ali. Two young lovers parking in the make out area of town. Ryan gets knocked out. When he wakes his girlfriend, Ali, AND her car are missing. Fast forward five years to present day.
Poppy finds herself back in her home town. She is the newly hired deputy sheriff and she knows she got the job because of her dad’s ties with the current sheriff. Her first case is an old case that got fresh.
Shane is the head of organized crime in Philly area. His story adds another layer to the book. With the help of Shane’s CPA, his son is newly attending an academy school. The challenges the boy experiences will impact the entire family.
The characters and stories are so well woven together with nail biting and powerful narration that put the pieces of the puzzle together. I couldn’t put the book down. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a grand first summer read.

This was my first novel by Alex Finlay and certainly won’t be my last. This was a quick, twisty, exciting thriller! I devoured it in a day. It’s the perfect escape read. I can’t wait to check out his past books. I will definitely be recommending this novel to others. Thanks for a great ride!!

I have really enjoyed reading Alex Finlay's books. I was pulled into this book from the beginning and it held my attention until the end. I felt like this book was fast paced with some twists and turns. This is a solid thriller with suspense and mystery. The characters were well written. Poppy was my favorite character in this book. The chapters are also shorter so that help make you stay focused on the story easier. If you're looking for a fun, twisty thriller then I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Alex Finlay is undeniably a great storyteller. His newest book revolves around a cold case when a car belonging to a local girl who went missing years earlier is discovered submerged in a lake. The audiobook is the way to go for this book, in my opinion, since it helps keep the changing perspectives straight.

This was an interesting book, though I personally found it slower than Alex Finlay’s others. This isn’t a bad thing, the story lent itself to that pacing. Told in alternating views, I thought the audiobook narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh was the better way to consume this because the distinct voices helped me keep straight whose perspective we were in. All three did a great job, and Helen Laser never disappoints!

Five years before the events of the book, a student named Ryan Richardson was out with his girlfriend when a man opened Ryan’s door and pulled him out. His girlfriend Ali was never seen again, sending shockwaves and rumors through the small town. Many locals thought Ryan must be responsible for Ali’s disappearance, or at least he knows more than he has let on. There’s no evidence of Ryan’s involvement, but that doesn’t stop the harassment aimed at Ryan.

In the present, Poppy McGee has just returned to her hometown to start her new job as the deputy sheriff and Ryan (going by the surname “Smith) is in Italy with some friends from law school. When Ali’s car is found back in their hometown submerged in a lake with two dead men in the car, Poppy is assigned the case and Ryan’s attorney reaches out. Who are the two men? How long has Ali’s car been in the lake? There’s an envelope with a cryptic cypher inside and a note in Ali’s handwriting: “If something happens to me”. Poppy will do whatever it takes to help find out what happened to Ali even if

The story follows three storylines: Ryan in Italy when he learns about Ali’s car, Poppy newly hired at the Sheriff’s office and working the case, and a man named Shane O’Leary in Philadelphia. Shane’s story centers around his son, who is relentlessly bullied at his new school, and his “business”, which involves some highly illegal activity. It’s not immediately clear how and when the stories will intertwine, but that is part of the intrigue reading this book.

There are a lot of secrets that are revealed throughout the mystery. Poppy was the most likeable character and the most well-developed. Ryan’s story was a tad action-y in my opinion, but it was easy to empathize with him having to start over in life just to escape the gossip around him. Shane’s story was interesting—I couldn’t figure out how it would tie in but it was clear it was going to be linked to Ali’s disappearance and the two men in the car.

The ending was satisfying, though I wanted a bit more than we got. It seemed to wrap up quickly and then move to a lengthy epilogue. I felt there was one character who didn’t get enough closure at the end, but the others were tied up neatly. I personally enjoyed his last book, What Have We Done, but it seemed that other readers may not have. This is stylistically more similar to Finlay’s first two books.

An engaging book though I did find it slow at times. Ryan’s story held my attention the least, but thankfully the story didn’t feature him too much. Fans of Finlay’s first two books and who like a good mystery will enjoy this!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for my copy. Opinions are my own.

3 stars. This was a nice slow burn summer read. Not overly thrilling, no surprising twists. But it was a nice story that was interesting and well written. I enjoyed the wrap up at the end that gave the reader closure. Overall, left the reader with warm feels but borders more on drama than a suspense thriller. I would recommend the book for a nice relaxing beach read knowing you won’t be forced to binge all night till it’s finished.

My favorite part of this book is the multiple points of view. It made me feel more immersed in the story. It's full of tension and twists. It definitely kept me guessing and wondering who was reliable. I'm never disappointed by this author!

Five years ago, Ryan Richardson’s girlfriend Ali was abducted while they were together in her car. He has been trying to escape his past and lingering suspicion until, when on a student trip to Italy, he sees the man he remembers from that fateful night- a man with two missing fingers. He and a new cop from Kansas will stop at nothing to find the truth.

I really enjoyed this one and how all the storylines connected. I thought it was clever and well done. The different locations and cipher element really enriched the plot. This was a solid thriller and I highly recommend it!

Please check trigger warnings.

Rating 4.5⭐️

📚: If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
⭐️: 4/5

I could not put this book down.

Seriously. I started reading this less than 3 hours ago. I tried to put it down a hour ago to, “go to bed,” (as I told my husband), and yet, here I am.

The gist: Ryan’s girlfriend vanished five years ago. He can’t stop thinking about that night. He’s lived under a cloud of suspicion from others. Out of nowhere, he receives a call that Ali’s car has been found — right as he sees the man that’s haunted his nightmares for the past five years. What actually happened and why is it all coming back to light now?

The good: While not my favorite Alex Finlay book (that award still goes to Every Last Fear), this one just screamed, “binge read me #inonesitting!” Short chapters make this a compulsive read. Multiple narratives and POVs weave together in a true masterclass of bringing a story together. 👏🏽

The eh: The short chapters allowed this to be read quick and gripped me, but on the other side of the coin, it felt *so* rushed. Overall the reveal was fairly predictable. And I have questions about a few plot holes at the very end.

Big thanks to @stmartinspress via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. If Something Happens to Me is available this upcoming Tuesday 5/28!

Well that was one wild ride! I am a big fan of Finlay’s books so I was really excited to get approved for If Something Happens To Me on NetGalley and then to receive an ALC as well. I recommend going into this one as blind as possible, which is what I did, and that made this story all the more intense.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the full cast narration. When I started the book, I was a little confused with all of the characters, but once I got further in, it was easier to decipher who was who and I found it enjoyable figuring out how all of these characters would come together in this story.

I’m a sucker for short chapters, and Finlay used them to move the plot along at a rapid pace while creating suspenseful and intense scenes. I liked that the book was broken up into 3 parts and an epilogue. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Finlay would throw in a mind blowing twist that changed the course of the story. You may need to suspend all disbelief while reading this book as some things really are unbelievable, but I found it an enjoyable read that I didn’t want put down.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

If Something Happens to Me is a complex story. Several points of view, multiple locations, different timelines. There’s a lot going on. I think I should have paid more attention and really digested the synopsis for this book because what I thought I was going to be reading about was nothing at all what I ended up reading about. That’s not a bad thing, it just made me stop and reset my thoughts on what was going to happen in the story.

There’s a lot of characters in this book. A lot of storylines happening. That’s fine, I followed along with it all well. Each chapter had a cliffhanger type ending which made me want to read the next chapter that much faster. Some of the characters that weren’t quite as fleshed out really should have been highlighted much more than they were. They were more interesting to me than some of the others, and I felt they were more important to the story but were not given the page time they deserved.

This book was an adventure, to say the least. It takes place over five years, with quite a few locations and as I started reading, I was left wondering how in the world everything was all going to come together, how on earth did this character have anything to do with that character. But slowly, Mr. Finlay wove a very intricate story that all came together in the end.

I give Mr. Finlay credit for keeping me glued to this story to find out what happened after every chapter. There’s lot of twists and turns in this one, some things led me in the wrong direction a few times, and plenty of action to keep the story progressing. An enjoyable read!

This was such a great read! Just when you think you've solved it there is a twist. Who is Allison really and why has she gone missing?
I love how Alex writes. Ryan and Ali have been a couple during their high school years. Their last night together is memorable, but not in the way Ryan had pictured. While parked on a remote make-out spot for teenagers, Ali is kidnapped and her car taken. Ryan is left with a head injury and few memories. Fast forward 5 years and Ryan, now a law school student, is reminded while on a trip to Europe of what happened. Perhaps, he thinks Ali may be alive. Meanwhile, back in their hometown, something has happened to the sheriff, and a young deputy is charged with solving the five-year -old crime. Finlay does a masterful job of weaving this tale of suspense. His characters are rich and real and the plot well done. I have read several of his previous works, this is his best to date. Don't miss this thriller!

Fast paced and absorbing mystery thriller.

After a traumatic event he experienced as a teenager, Ryan Richardson had to reinvent himself and learn to exist without his girlfriend. Allison disappeared with the thugs who took her and was never seen again. Ryan lived for years under a cloud of suspicion and changed his name and went on to law school but never forgot his first love. On a trip with school classmates to Italy about 5 years later, Ryan gets a call that the car Allison was in has been discovered at the bottom of a lake. Allison’s body is not inside but a note in her handwriting leads Ryan to believe that she might still be alive. A mad hunt ensues. The situation involves a young Kansan deputy working her first job and a group of mobsters in Philadelphia.

Although quite convoluted and complex, the plot was great. Lots of characters both good and bad. I liked the writing style and the different locations. The narrative shifts in point of view and I loved listening to the audiobook while reading along in the E-book (both ARCs provided by the publisher).
Especially enjoyed the multicast performance on the audio which enhanced the entire experience. The book was fast and fun and I definitely recommend it.

This was a wild ride. I was so confused in the beginning as to what was happening but once everything comes together it was great (and twisty if you ask me!) I love how Finlay weaves seemingly different storylines into a cohesive thriller. I thought the ending was fantastic and enjoyed learning the backstories of the characters, I liked the audio as Helen Laser is one of the narrators and she always gives an excellent narration.

This was my first book from this author I enjoyed. I keep hearing great things, but they haven’t been for me. This one was right up my alley. I liked the different POVs, some of which didn’t seem to fit with the storyline but of course it all came together in the end. There were some great twists and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

I finished this book this morning. First time reading a book by this author, I’m thrilled to have read this book. It starts off with an abduction and the momentum keeps going.
Recommend this for anyone who loves a good suspense thriller.

Ryan and Ali have been a couple during their high school years. Their last night together is memorable, but not in the way Ryan had pictured. While parked on a remote make-out spot for teenagers, Ali is kidnapped and her car taken. Ryan is left with a head injury and few memories. Fast forward 5 years and Ryan, now a law school student, is reminded while on a trip to Europe of what happened. Perhaps, he thinks Ali may be alive. Meanwhile, back in their hometown, something has happened to the sheriff, and a young deputy is charged with solving the five-year -old crime. Finlay does a masterful job of weaving this tale of suspense. His characters are rich and real and the plot well done. I have read several of his previous works, this is his best to date. Don't miss this thriller! Thanks to #NetGalley#IfSomethingHappensto Me for the opportunity to read and review this book. Read my review at https://www.facebook.com/thereadingandwritingsentinel/

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is a well-crafted, perfectly plotted entertaining entry in the mystery/thriller genre. The story takes place from multiple viewpoints and places, so you're not sure at first how they're connected. At the start, a teenage girl is taken in Kansas, leaving her boyfriend unconscious and without any clue as to what happened. It's later assumed that she was taken and killed by a local serial killer. Five years later, we meet the girl's boyfriend, who is now in law school traveling abroad. We also meet a curious deputy sheriff in the same town, who becomes involved in her case when her car is finally recovered. The last storyline is about a mobster in Philadelphia. There is a lot going on, but the short chapters and distinct characters make it easy to follow. There is a great a-ha moment when we figure out how all the characters' lives intersect. The storyline is cohesive and tightly plotted. The characters have depth and agency and I loved getting to know each character. Though, they're not always perfect, I find Finlay's characters intriguing and love that the female characters are strong and resourceful. If Something Happens to Me is an action-packed, satisfying mystery where all of the mysteries are resolved, feel organic, and are unexpected. I listened to the audiobook, which was well narrated and kept me riveted.

Thank you St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.